A biscuit is only a suitable sugar-free choice for a school fair if the sugar content on the current label matches that claim and you can clearly share its ingredients and allergen information. Sugar-free does not mean allergen-free. Check for possible traces and warnings about polyols, and ask the school in advance what it allows.
If children and parents can buy biscuits, you’ll want to display the ingredients and allergen information alongside the product. Keep the current label to hand, check for notices about possible traces too, and ask what policy the school follows.
If you’re specifically looking for sugar-free biscuits, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. A ‘no added sugar’ claim doesn’t provide the same information.
Taste and portions that are easy to share matter at a school fair too. Also check which sweeteners and allergens the biscuits contain, and whether the packaging carries a warning about excessive consumption.
First decide whether you’re looking for genuinely sugar-free biscuits or simply a product with no added sugar. Then check the label and the school’s rules before deciding how to offer the biscuits.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school policy | Check the current packaging for allergens present and anything the product may contain. Ask the school which products it allows. | If I’m handing out biscuits, I want parents and pupils to be able to check the allergen information before choosing. Around 36% of consumers put this information and school policy first. |
| Sugar-free or no added sugar | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and read the exact claim on the packaging. | I’m looking for genuinely sugar-free biscuits and don’t want to confuse a no-added-sugar claim with the total sugar content. For around 29% of consumers, this distinction is decisive. |
| Taste and portions | Check how many individual biscuits or portions are in the pack, and how you’ll display the label at the stall. | When planning the stall, I want to know how many portions I can offer and whether the flavour suits the range. This is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Sweeteners and polyols | Read the ingredients and look out for any warning about excessive consumption. | I want to know which sweeteners the biscuits contain before deciding what portions to offer. Around 14% of consumers put this consideration first. |
These claims don’t mean the same thing. Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco Zero, despite its ‘0% added sugar’ claim.
If you’re specifically looking for sugar-free biscuits, check both the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.
A sugar claim doesn’t tell you which allergens are present. Biscuit examples from Albert Heijn and Jumbo list wheat, among other ingredients; other allergens and possible traces vary by product.
Keep the original packaging at the school fair, and make the product name, ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ notice visible to shoppers.
Some sugar-free biscuits contain polyols. The packaging for AH Digestive 0% sugar says that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the ingredients and warnings before deciding on portions, even when the sugar content is low.
A recipe you’ve chosen yourself may still contain sugars and allergens. The school also decides whether homemade products are suitable for its fair.
Check in advance, keep a record of the recipe and ingredients used, and make sure shoppers can access the allergen information.
AH Digestive 0% sugar is a biscuit sweetened with sweeteners, sold in a 400 g pack. Albert Heijn lists 27 portions of 15 g.
Céréal has several biscuits under the Zonder Suikers name, including Coconut and Speculoos with almond pieces. Ingredients and allergens vary by variety.
Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit labelled ‘0% added sugar’ and sweetened with sweeteners.
This product suits a no-added-sugar option, not a strictly sugar-free selection. For a school fair, also compare the allergens and information on the packaging.
No image available
For anyone looking for biscuits with no added sugar, but not for a strictly sugar-free selection. According to the product information, these biscuits contain wheat and gluten and may contain nuts and milk. Check the current label and the number of portions before setting them out at the school fair.
No. Under European rules on nutrition claims, ‘sugar-free’ may be used for a biscuit that contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘No added sugar’ means something different: to check the total amount, look at ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table.
Keep the ingredients and allergen information for every biscuit available, and ask the school how it wants this displayed at the point of sale. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out labelling rules for prepacked products and information requirements for unpackaged products sold by food businesses. Check with the school which rules and its own arrangements apply to the fair.
Read the ingredients and the warning on the packaging before offering portions. According to Albert Heijn, AH Digestive 0% sugar contains polyols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
First compare the nutritional values per 100 g, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends. This lets you compare like with like without different portion sizes affecting the results. Then check the number of biscuits per pack, the ingredients and the allergens to help you choose what to offer at the fair.
